Scottish Government release more details on the Strategic Framework Business Fund for businesses required to close by law or to significantly change its operations due to current COVID-19 restrictions.
What does this involve?
If your business is required to close by law or to significantly change its operations due to COVID-19 restrictions, you may be eligible to apply for grant funding. Funding will cover any closures with the earliest claim date being 2 November 2020.
Applications to the Strategic Framework Business Fund should be made through your local authority website.
Grants will be paid every 4 weeks in arrears as long as restrictions last.
If your business is required to close by law, apply for the Temporary Closure grant:-
- £2,000 if your business premises has a rateable value of up to and including £51,000
- £3,000 if your business premises has a rateable value of £51,001 or above
- An upper limit of £15,000 in total in any four-week period will apply to any eligible business operating multiple premises.
If your business can remain open but is specifically required to modify its operations by law, for example having to close earlier than normal, apply for the Business Restrictions grant. (This does not include where a demand for your products or services has been reduced because of the pandemic):-
- £1, 400 if your business premises has a rateable value of up to and including £51,000
- £2,100 if your business premises has a rateable value of £51,001 or above
- An upper limit of £10,500 in total in any four-week period will apply to any eligible business operating multiple premises.
Grants will be paid every 4 weeks in arrears. Payments will be paid administered by local authorities, and you will not need to re-apply if restrictions are extended beyond four weeks.
When restrictions end, any final payment in arrears may be adjusted to reflect the duration of the restrictions to the nearest week.
Am I eligible?
Whether your business is eligible will depend on where your premises are located and what level of restrictions are in place at any point in time. Read detailed information about eligibility
You can apply if:
- your business has been directly impacted by restrictions
- you have a business bank account – this is the account your grant will be paid into if your application is successful
- your business is registered for non-domestic rates – if you pay rates through a landlord rather than directly to a local authority you can still apply but must provide evidence through a copy of the lease agreement
- Limited companies (including Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisations), sole traders, trust and partnerships can apply provided they meet the above criteria.
If your business operates multiple premises you can apply for grants for each premise. All premises should be included in one application which should be sent to and processed by the local authority area in which your business is headquartered. The maximum any one business can receive will be restricted, regardless of the number of premises.
You cannot apply if your business:
- has breached wider COVID-19 regulations/requirements prior to local restrictions
- has connections to tax havens
Who is this for?
This is for Scottish businesses that are required to close by law as a result of COVID-19 restrictions from 2 November 2020.
How long does this take?
Grants will be paid every four weeks in arrears.
The first payment of this grant funding is due on or around 30 November 2020.
Important information.
You need to apply through your local authority website. As of today we are aware that only Fife and Orkney have the application process set up. Please keep checking this link to see when your local authority has the application process in operation.